I am no authority, but I was given a Beefsteak begonia leaf, and it was easy to root from the petiole just about like an African violet. I have since done this several times. I think a lot of the Rex begonias can be rooted from just the leaf part, which is what you basically have. I think the leaf is cut into sections and laid on top of sterile rooting medium, but you maybe ought to look this up. I think if you have a plantlet, then roots aren't far away.

It's not unusual with rhizomatous and rex leaves, it's some form of survival I think. I"m not sure how long to leave it in the water and when to pot it on (with damp sphagnum perhaps taking the place of the stem and a bit of Rootone for luck if the roots don't appear). It's an interesting leaf, looks a bit like B. sizemoreae, a beauty from Vietnam.

I think I've posted in here how back when I was in college I earned extra $$$ by helping one of the research extension specialists in his personal greenhouse business. One of the many propagation chores I did was rex begonia leaf cuttings.

I remember walking into the greenhouse one morning to a big pile of begonia leaves on the table. He had already prepared several flats with potting mix and had them waiting for me. My tools? A paper punch. I punched all along the leaf veins and placed them on top of the potting soil. EVERY little disc turned into a new plant. The smallest leaves were just placed on top of the soil and slits cut into the veins, in the traditional manner of making leaf cuttings, as illustrated in the attached link.

In my excitement about the 'top of the head' new leaves, I forgot to mention this leaf's stem HAS put on roots. From the moment I noticed the top leaves, it had started some roots, I lifted it out of the water bottle to check.

I only dabble in Begonias, have some bits in mix in terrariums at the moment. I've also experimented some w/ propagating Begonias from leaves, I know SOME do that, maybe some Rex & Rhizomatous. I believe I've done same w/ Beefsteak & also one called Art Hodes, which I've had & posted about but don't have at the moment.

I'm friends w/ a woman who has headed the NYC Begonia Society (I think they're called the Knickerbocker Society), I'll have to steer her here for a look.

I took more pix this morning, put haven't uploaded them, it's progressing nicely.

Rhizo (Dori?),

That sounds so fun dealing w/ hole-punched bits of Begonia leaves. OR, have I just become too weird?

I'd never seen this system of slitting a leaf as you've shown in the drawing you linked. The larger areas of my leaf are started to deteriorate, am wondering about cutting off some viable leaf sections & then slitting them, like this drawing, very cool! Thank for the link!

My email to my friend (former Begonia Society's President) bounced, so I've got to call her. I also emailed my former Society President & newsletter editor, but that was just today, so I haven't heard back yet.

If anyone reading this knows how to do a link, perhaps they'd consider posting a Link at Begonia Forum to here for me. OR, should I just post there on my own?

I've put it back in the water bottle but today I cut a couple of leaf sections & potted them up in an improvised terrarium. I don't have pix of that yet.

I'm glad you potted it up now, while still so little. It will me much less of a difficult transition (water roots and soil roots are different).Begonia leaf cuttings really do so well when rooted on a porous potting mix.

Oops, I must have been unclear. What I potted up were some leaf sections (into a terrarium). The leaf w/ attached plantlet as shown in the pix has NOT been potted up yet, still living in the top of the water bottle.

I'm still wondering how to proceed, haven't heard back yet from Begonia friends.

Hi Rhizo,

Yes, thanks, I know abt the water roots vs. soil roots. Yet a founding member of my Indoor Gardening group (& published plant writer) said she transitions her water rooted cuttings (when first potted up) by keeping them wetter than one might expect (I guess) approximating more the water rooting conditions & thereby easing the transition.

I'm leaning towards leaving this Hydro w/ Leca stones; it just seems so happy in the water. I think I'd be afraid the leaf would dry out & I'm not great about potting up in plastic bags & HATE how that looks.

Awww, sorry I brought it up. I was looking for my Begonia threads to add pics and this was in the search results. I admit, sometimes if I get busy during the "off season" I have been known to neglect little projects like that. I always feel at least a little regret about it though.